Who sits when Muzzin returns

[Stephen]

Yeah maybe we need to go 11F 7D.

 

[Eye Test]

Rielly bush
Muzzin brodie
Gio lilly

One heavy hitter and puck mover on each. In Lilly’s case two hitters and one puck mover.

Bush needs a puck mover as he’s always looking to give it to his other D.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Definitely Holl. He doesn't bring anything we don't have a better version of and there's no real upside with him. Lyub can at least eat pucks and provide a net presence. It's also crucial that we give Liljegren an advanced role beside Giordano so he doesn't become another Dermott.

 

[Atomos2]

Hopefully Holl or Lub, preferably Holl, but recent history suggest Liljegren.

Holl better have a short leash because he'll be a lightning rod for criticism. As would any inferior player playing over someone better in the playoffs.

 

[LeafSteel]

I think we need to see what version of Muzzin comes back.

It could very well be between him and Holl.

Sitting Liljegren should not be something considered.

He factors prominently into our plans moving forward and he needs to get that experience under his belt.

 

[mapleleafs34]

11 & 7 might be a great idea.

Let the D play to their strengths and we don't have to dress Simmonds. Win-Win IMO.

 

[Machinae]

Liljegren still makes a lot of mistakes, tie goes to the vet. Otherwise it would have to be Lyubushkin.

I think you're out to lunch and letting bias factor in if you think Holl is coming out. He's still the best right handed RD on the team. Not to say he wasn't terrible early in the season, but he's back and you need to update your small sample size opinion to present day.

That's also not to say he won't be bad or replaced in the near future, but it would be pretty dire if the Leafs are scratching him at some point in the playoffs due to performance.

Rielly - Lybushkin
Giordano - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl

Muzzin is the wild card. If he's back to form after a long rest this D is stacked AND tough as hell. If we have to settle for Sandin/Liljegren, there's worse options right? Leafs have a gr8 group going into the playoffs. God forbid they hit 2 keys injuries to the D at once, they still ice an incredible 6.

 

[ShaneFalco]

I think we need to see what version of Muzzin comes back.

It could very well be between him and Holl.

Sitting Liljegren should not be something considered.

He factors prominently into our plans moving forward and he needs to get that experience under his belt.

Was just going to post something like this. Muzz was one of the few guys who could ramp it up in the playoffs. Then injuries.......and this year he just hasn't been the same. Who knows if/how he'll recover going into the playoffs

 

[Morgs]

Yeah maybe we need to go 11F 7D.

I don't see why we'd do that. We have 8 capable choices. Using 7D really only feels necessary when you have a couple guys you aren't sure can hack it or don't have a F that's worth playing. Neither of those are true. The nice part of our defense is that you can't go wrong as long as everyone but Brodie is playing their handedness because nobody else has shown the ability to flip sides (Sandin was actively bad as a RD).

I'd say the depth chart *should* look like (based on what they offer in their role, **not pairings**):

LD - RD
Rielly - Brodie
Brodie - Liljegren
Giordano - Holl
Muzzin - Lyubushkin
Sandin

BUT I have no issue with sitting anyone of Muzzin, Sandin, Holl, Lyubushkin as I feel like we have a clear top-4 and bottom-4 (assuming Muzzin isnt back to himself), and they're all more than good enough to be playing. The only thing I completely wouldn't understand is benching Liljegren. You don't need 6 20 min/night defenseman, and nobody has straight up dominated their minutes like he has this season. Absolutely lethal on the 3rd pairing and can play up if required.

 

[Gabriel426]

What Bush brings is PK and clearing in front of the net, having him and Gio in the lineup takes punishment off Muz. The playoffs is going to be a grind and hopefully it wont be 7 games and less for the Leafs. This is by far the deepest and most complete(in terms of different styles) the Leafs had in a long time. None of them are perfect Dman or TRUE #1 Dman(only a few of them in the league), but they are solid and unless they make mental errors, they are not going to give up a lot.

 

[zeke]

Half of the top-6 are recently new. Giordano was a deadline add. Lyubushkin shortly before that. Liljegren has just started to get comfprtable.

The 'no defence narrative' was pretty fair until about a month ago.

Except Lilly was here and Boosh stinks, so no it was never fair.

 

[seanlinden]

Personally, I like the idea of there being a somewhat physical presence on the ice at all times... so I leave Rielly & Lyubushkin together.

Beyond that, I think it really depends on how you view Muzzin / how he recovers. If he gets back to "last year's Muzzin", then I think you have to put him in the best possible position to succeed -- and to me, that would be with Brodie.

That leaves Giordano on the 3rd pair, and I think both Liljegren or Holl would be decent partners with him.

If maybe he's not quite up to where he was, then perhaps you spread the wealth, Giordano-Brodie, and Muzzin-Holl.

Ultimately, I think it'll be Holl or Liljegren out, leaning towards likely Liljegren.

 

[Dreakmur]

Except Lilly was here and Boosh stinks, so no it was never fair.

Liljegren was here, but he only recently started to get good. If Lyubushkin stinks, then we probably still have issue.

 

[zeke]

What Bush brings is PK

PK TOI since deadline:

Brodie 2:54
Holl 2:04
Gio 1:50
Boosh 1:29
Mo 1:22

And of course with Muzz back he'd go right back on the PK so no more PK for Boosh.

 

[zeke]

Liljegren was here, but he only recently started to get good. If Lyubushkin stinks, then we probably still have issue.

Lilly has been good from the start and improving all year.

Boosh stinks, but is a fine #8 dman like he is for us.

 

[cupcrazyman]

It should be Holl but you know with this team it won't.

 

[Dreakmur]

Boosh stinks, but is a fine #8 dman like he is for us.

Then we still have an issue.

 

[zeke]

Then we still have an issue.

The issue would be having one of the best dcorps in hockey.

 

[saltming]

I think we need to see what version of Muzzin comes back.

It could very well be between him and Holl.

Sitting Liljegren should not be something considered.

He factors prominently into our plans moving forward and he needs to get that experience under his belt.

The concern for how Muzzin will return is valid. Returning from concussion is a slippery path.
Fingers crossed he comes back fully healthy and rested. It would be a great boots for the team

 

[saltming]

11 & 7 might be a great idea.

Let the D play to their strengths and we don't have to dress Simmonds. Win-Win IMO.

I am warming up to this idea

 

[saltming]

Lilly has been good from the start and improving all year.

Boosh stinks, but is a fine #8 dman like he is for us.

Why does he stink? Because he doesn't move the puck well or create a lot of scoring chances?
If so I agree he's 1 dimensional in that field, but he brings that physical presence that intimidates opponents. That is an X factor we lacked for. Muzzin can't be the only one on the blueline the opposition fears

 

[Dreakmur]

The issue would be having one of the best dcorps in hockey.

If Muzzin is healthy and back to his peak form, we are probably in the top 1/3 of the league, but probably not the top 1/4.

That's a big "if". I don't think Muzzin will ever be the same, unfortunately.

 

[zeke]

Why does he stink? Because he doesn't move the puck well or create a lot of scoring chances?

That.

And also that's he's too slow to recover defensively when he puts himself out of position or gets beat.

 

[zeke]

If Muzzin is healthy and back to his peak form, we are probably in the top 1/3 of the league, but probably not the top 1/4.

That's a big "if". I don't think Muzzin will ever be the same, unfortunately.

Easily in the top 1/4, likely top-5.

 

[Dreakmur]

Easily in the top 1/4, likely top-5.

Our defensive metrics are inflated because we have the puck a lot. Don't be fooled by the bar graphs.